2Nd Mates Orals Notes s2

Contingencies Part I

[FOR MCA ORAL EXAMINATIONS]

CONTINGENCIES

Table of Contents :

1 ABANDONMENT

A) Decision to abandon the Ship:-

- The current situation;

- How the situation is expected to develop;

- What are the possibilities of influencing the development in a positive manner;

- What are the consequences if one does not manage to influence the development to a sufficient extent;

- Buoyancy characteristics and damage stability.

The evaluation will be a probability calculation in which all known factors that may influence the development of the situation are taken into account.

Actions must be concentrated on those aspects upon which it is possible to influence, and which are of utmost importance for the desired result: Safety of lives.

When the Master makes the decision to evacuate, he must also decide in which manner it shall be carried out. When the alarm signal or the order to abandon is given, the Master must also give the necessary orders so that the abandonment may take place in the manner that in his opinion is the safest in the current situation.

B) Distress Message and Communication

1. External communication:

When it has been decided to abandon the ship a distress situation exists irrespective of how favourable the conditions may seem. If no earlier notification has been given about the difficulties encountered, it is necessary to send a distress signal and a distress message;

2. Internal communication:

In situations where it is decided to use more survival craft or where part of the complement is evacuated in a first stage, it is necessary to distribute all available radio equipment so that communication may be maintained between all units.

C) Abandonment with own Craft

1. In an acute situation:

In an acute abandonment situation it may only be possible to use the survival craft on one side of the ship, due to weather conditions or other circumstances. When the signal preparation for abandonment is given, it must have been decided which craft are to be used, and orders must be given accordingly. If the situation permits, other survival craft should be prepared for alternative use.

In an acute situation it may be very difficult to organise search parties for missing persons. Those who are missing may be deceased, badly injured, fallen over board, or may be participating in casualty abatement on their own initiative. Try to find out where missing persons were last seen, possibilities and time available for searching, and the probability that they may still be alive.

To supplement the survival craft with extra equipment in an acute situation will be difficult. Clothing, personal life-saving equipment and communication equipment must have priority. In cases where the evacuation has a character of flight, leadership will be of decisive importance for a successful result. It is important that the leaders take charge immediately, support those who show initiative, activate those who seem paralysed and neutralise those who show tendency to panic.

2) In a precarious situation:

In situations where it is evident that the ship must be abandoned, but where the development seems such that some time is available for preparation and extra precautions, it may be better not to use the life- boat alarm, but rather to gather the complement and inform them about the situation and the plans for abandonment that have been made. The crew may then get an opportunity to prepare mentally for the abandonment. If it is known that help is underway or is being prepared, this must be emphasized, as it will have a favourable effect upon the survivors.

Even if the situation is such that abandonment may be achieved by other means, the preparations for abandonment with own survival craft must be carried out.

Decide if it is suitable to carry out abandonment in several stages. If there is a danger that the situation suddenly may become worse, a part evacuation may be advantageous.

The survival craft that shall be used should be supplied with the equipment assumed to be needed. If more crafts are to be used, communication must be agreed and preparations made so that the crafts may be kept together after launching.

If other means than the ship's survival craft may be used for abandonment, the crew must be informed and instructed of precautions and guidelines, and necessary preparations must be made.

If you are in contact with the outside world or with a rescue unit, which is underway, they must be kept continuously informed about the situation, what precautions have been made, and what are your intentions should the situation become acute.

If there is a possibility that the ship may remain afloat, it must be decided if any machinery shall be kept running when the ship is abandoned for the purpose of pumps, light, emergency transmissions, etc.

3. In an uncertain situation

The situation may be such that abandonment must be prepared, due to uncertainty with regard to the result of the actions that have been undertaken, or if failures should occur that may weaken the casualty abatement.

If casualty abatement is in process, it may be a disadvantage to sound the lifeboat alarm, as this will interrupt all activities. It is better to withdraw some units from these activities to prepare and secure withdrawal possibilities.

Part abandonment should be considered if the possibility for active casualty abatement is limited and the situation develops in an unsatisfactory manner. Before the decision of part abandonment is made, the risks associated with remaining on board must be considered against the risk of evacuation.

If it is decided to abandon the ship and await further development from the survival craft, preparations must be made so that re-boarding the vessel is possible, if the risk of sinking diminishes.

D) Alternative Abandonment Methods

1. Rescue helicopter:

Rescue helicopters are normally stationed at military bases. Private firms can also have helicopters suitable for rescue actions. The large rescue helicopters have an action radius of about 230 N.M., including time for the rescue of 20 persons by hoisting. Service speed of about 100 knots, maximum reach 600 N.M. Smaller helicopters have an action radius of about 130 N.M. and have a capacity of 7 survivors by means of rescue hoist. Not all types of helicopters can be used in rescue service at sea.

Only under especially favourable conditions some types of helicopters may land on the sea. Very favourable conditions are also required if the helicopter shall land on the vessel, or come in at an attitude so low that survivors may enter directly. If possible, the crew should be instructed before arrival of the helicopter and tasks allocated. Communication with the helicopter should be established on a telephony emergency frequency.

The helicopter cannot operate in the close vicinity of smoke or flames. The helicopter is not suitable for stand-by or escorting due to limited action radius. It may take some time before the helicopter is ready to start, up to one hour.

2. Other help:

Naval vessels and coast guard vessels may carry small helicopters. Transfer of personnel may be accomplished directly from the damaged ship by use of an open, inflatable raft or a rescue buoy, which may be hauled between the damaged ship and a rescue craft, or by a man-over-board boat.

3. Rescue station:

Established along the coast, mostly used for rescue from stranded vessel. A cutter or a smaller boat may be used to leeward of the wreck, a hawser and a rescue buoy may be rigged, or possibly an inflatable raft or a rubber dinghy may be hauled between the wreck and the shore.

D) Precautions after Abandonment

If more crafts are used for abandonment, they should be kept together with a painter. If any of the complements are missing, lookout should be maintained from as many places as possible. Equipment for rescue should be made ready.

An emergency radio beacon should be kept in continuous operation. Emergency signal and emergency message should be sent regularly on emergency frequencies until answer is obtained.

Use of emergency signaling equipment should be considered in relation to visibility, distance to shore, the vicinity of ship routes, if assistance is underway or a search action is in process.

EVACUATION

Immediate / Pending / After abandonment
SEND DISTRESS SIGNAL / SEND DISTRESS SIGNAL / ACTIVATE RADIO BEACON
PREPARE ABANDONMENT / PREPARE ABANDONMENT
SELECT SURVIVAL CRAFT / SEARCH FOR MISSING PERSONS IF WRECK AFLOAT
EMBARK STRETCHER CASE / MARK WRECK
SEARCH FOR MISSING PERSONS IN VICINITY / ALERT VESSELS / KEEP CLOSE TO WRECK
NOTIFY COMPANY
ALERT VESSELS IN VICINITY IF WRECK SINKING / MANOEUVRE SHIP TO FACILITATE ABANDONMENT
COLLECT/DISTRIBUTE
. RADIO EQUIPMENT
. SURVIVAL SUITS
. MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
. SEASICKNESS MEDICATION / KEEP CLEAR / CONSIDER
- USING OIL BAG
- AWAITING IMPROVED CONDITIONS / ASSISTANCE
- POSSIBILITIES FOR RE-ABANDONMENT
PARTIAL ABANDONMENT / KEEP POSITION ON SHIP'S ROUTE

2 ENGINE ROOM FIRE

2.1 The following should be taken into account:-

1. The extent and location of fire when first reported;

2. The time elapsed between first report and first major fire-fighting operation is

launched;

3. Accessibility to fire-fighting operation;

4. Decide early whether an attempt should be made to tackle the fire locally or use the

total flooding system;

5. In an unmanned engine room duty engineer attending the alarm shall not attempt to

fight fire single handed. He shall report location and extent to bridge and emergency head quarters and awaits assistance from a safe location;

6. The chief engineer shall take overall charge of the operations and shall keep Master

and chief officer informed;

The decision whether to reset to CO2 flooding needs to be taken in fairly early stages

of fire. In any case, chief officer shall in addition to boundary cooling shall keep men ready to prepare engine room for CO2 flooding.

Reporting procedure ref. Ch. 6.

3 ACCOMMODATION FIRE

3.1 Following should be taken into account: -

1. Fire needs to be tackled at considerably speed;

2. With close circuit ventilation/cutting off of ventilation must be done immediately on

hearing alarm. Power circuits also should be isolated;

3. Use of SCBA, knowledge of layout and the need to operate "blind" should be kept in

mind without panic.

4. Water spray should be used to cover large areas;

5. Cooling of areas from outside and from above and below decks be undertaken;

6. Fire-fighting operation shall be undertaken in pairs;

Control ventilation to allow the smoke out of area.

Reporting procedure ref. Ch. 6.

4 RESCUE OF PERSONS OVERCOME BY TOXIC GAS OR ANOXIA

4.1 Methods of planning for such rescue is well documented in code of safe working practices.

The following notes should be brought to the attention of the crew.

1. The atmosphere of any enclosed or confined space may put at risk the health or life of any person entering it without proper precaution. The space may be either deficient in oxygen and/or contain flammable or toxic fumes, gases or vapours.

2. It is therefore necessary to identify such spaces on general arrangement plan and to

instruct all members of the crew. Entry into such a space should be prohibited and

no person should even attempt an entry unless all precautions given in the code of

safe practice are followed and express permission of the Master is obtained.

3. Crewmembers should also be advised that spaces other than those identified might

also contain toxic gases and/or insufficiency of oxygen. Spaces normally kept closed

for long periods or located adjacent to identified spaces should be suspect. Entry

into such spaces shall only be attempted after the compartment is tested.

Reporting procedure ref. Ch. 6.

5 MAN OVERBOARD

1. It is necessary to ensure that crewmembers are not sent on exposed decks in rough

weather without proper precaution. Use of lifelines, harness and life jackets are very

essential precautions.

2. Which action to be taken after a man is lost overboard will depend on weather, area,

etc., but essential action is to throw MOB overboard life buoy to mark the area must

be taken urgently.

3. If lifeboats/rescue boats are to be lowered, detailed planning must be undertaken so

that bridge and the boat in charge understand each other clearly.

4. In order to increase the capability of the crew to launch a survival craft at sea when a

vessel has slight way on her, it is necessary to carry out such drills in port where tidal

current is experienced. The exercise should be well planned taking into account the

following:-

A. Readiness of engine and starting same before being water borne;

B. Keeping painter tight;

C. Unhooking falls, advantage of lower block being secured with gentleness so that on unhooking it can be hove up to avoid injuries;

D. Boat crew wearing life jackets and helmets;

E. Use of engines to relieve strain on falls;